With the Honorable Rudolph W. Giuliani as guide, In Memoriam: New York City, 9/11/01 follows the mayor and his staff from their first realization of what had occurred, through despair and tears, to a newfound strength that would emerge in the spirit of a new America. The documentary presents a panoramic and unique historical record of that fateful day in New York City.In Memoriam: New York City, 9/11/01 draws on unprecedented access to City Hall and the Mayor's staff, as well as visual material-much of it never before seen-from still and video cameras of more that 100 people in and around New York City, everyday citizens who were eyewitnesses to the tragic events of the day. Members of the Mayor's key staff are interviews in the film, including: Bernard Kerik, Police Commissioner: Thomas von Essen, Fire Commissioner: Joe Lhota, Operations Chief of City Government: Sunny Mindel, Communications Director: and Beth Petrone, the Mayor's executive assistant.
People from 115 different countries died at the World Trade Center, "It wasn't just an attack on America-it was an attack on much of the civilized world," comments Giuliani, "Nobody deserves to die; nobody in that building deserved to die. They were just doing their jobs. They were showing up and working. We should consider all of them heroes and patriots. They gave their lives pursuing the American dream."